Summary
Republican West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has won the Senate seat previously held by retiring independent Sen. Joe Manchin, NBC News projects.
Justice’s victory moves Republicans closer to taking control of the Senate; they now need just one more seat if Democrats retain the White House.
Justice, initially elected as a Democrat in 2016 before switching to the GOP, defeated Democrat Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott in a race heavily favored for Republicans.
Manchin was basically a Republican anyway
The judicial picks alone made him a Democrat. The fact that he was willing to work with Dems made him definitively NOT a Republican. Having him was infinitely better than having a Republican.
Manchin is what a Republican SHOULD be.
He at least gave the Senate majority leadership to the Democrats.
And then let them do exactly nothing with that majority - thus perpetuating the media talking point that democrats don’t deliver.
Sinking it whenever he felt like it. Seemingly getting worse over time taking more and more for himself.
If only there was something, like a buster, maybe even fili type buster stopping any forward progress.
It was the only positive thing I can tell he did with his seat.